A Counting

Mata Hari's accountant pulls my coat
says I've overlooked some things
picks his teeth with a straightened paper clip
jaundiced skin, still wears the green eyeshade

Says I've overlooked some things
the missing L in poke a dot
homeless worms on rained-on sidewalks, slowing to stillness
the way that girl behind the fish counter looks at me
clears her throat as she scoops the scallops

Who's on first? still chasing that one
the revving engine of thoughts thinking thoughts
again again, and again again again
black limbs in winter wind
branching to branches and smaller to twigs

Mata Hari's accountant clucks his tongue
remembers Florsheim Shoes and Howdy Doody
saw the USA in his Chevrolet
filling the ashtray with Lucky butts
Gene Autrey swallowed under that ten-gallon hat
how'd they keep him on the horse?

Now it's all changed
nothing adds up
columns of figures snaking twisting off pages' edges
red and black ink pool at the ledger's seam
to blossom into violet rorschachs . . .
Look! two dolphins with clowns on their backs
leaping through rings of flame or clouds

I can't see it. I cross my eyes again
but those 3-D pictures pop in instead of out.